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Caelan's mind didn't stop telling hi to take her even though she wasn't his. He wanted to yell at it to shut up, but that wouldn't do any good for him. "So, Clio...Why did you leave? Your kingdom?" He asked, smiling softly at her |
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Adele was lost in her thoughts, gazing around her at the scenery. When Caelan spoke, it broke her out of her trance. At first she didn't realize what the prince had said, but when she did, her eyes widened and dread and terror took over. He had said her kingdom! How did he know? She had assumed he had a suspicion, but not that he was sure! Adele decided that maybe this was his way of confirming that she was the princess, and that he still wasn't sure. She would keep the innocent mask on. Adele spoke slowly, trying to come up with a believable story. "Well, I left the Day Kingdom because I didn't like how their king, King Ranulf, was ruling. I decided to go wherever my horse," here Adele looked down at Calvin, "Apollo, took me. He led me here, to the Night Kingdom." Just saying those words, Night Kingdom, out loud made her gulp. "So I decided to ask around for work." |
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"So you didn't like your father and decided to run? Lemme guess...arranged marriage?" He said, chuckling. "You can't really hide the face I've had to study since I was a child. I won't harm you. Even if I did, I would have already." He added softly, slowing his mare to walk beside her horse. "And I won't say anything to anyone, either. You can stay here as long as you'd like. My father is going to be dead by the end of the week and I'll be king. I'm sure you won't want to stick around for that long? But if you do, your room is exactly that-yours-for as long as you'd like. Dine by my side or on your own time, get a family, continue to live in the castle, I really don't care. But I'd say we're at least friends now, hm, Adele?" He said, using her real name |
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As Caelan talked, Adele lost herself in her panic more and more. This is not the way this is supposed to go! I should have known that first time he saw me that he recognized me! I should have known he was smarter then he looked. What am I supposed to do now?! When Caelan came up beside her she was sure he'd be able to hear her heart hammering in her chest. And yet, when she looked into Caelan's eyes, her panic dissipated. Something about those eyes was calming, but not in a bad way. Suddenly she felt that what he had said was true, that she was safe with him. Adele couldn't hold in everything she had said to him, all the lies she had told that he clearly knew were false. "I'm so sorry, you must think I'm a horrible princess! I lied to you every time I talked to you and all you've done it be kind! I just assumed that all people in this kingdom were, I don't know, EVIL, but clearly.... you're... not." Adele trailed off, still gazing into the prince's eyes. A strange feeling gripped her. Her heart thudded again, but for a very different reason. |
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"I won't say a word, dearest Adele, and if you ever need me you know all you have to do is ask. Many other people may be upset you lied to the future king of the Night kingdom, but not me. I'm used to pretending to be fooled, darling." He said softly, smiling at her in a warm way. He could, indeed, hear her heart quite faintly and chuckled. "Nervous, are we?" He asked softly, tilting his head to the side slightly. The sun caught every muscle, every ripple on his neck and jaw as he watched her. The warm glow of the sun also illuminating her in the most beautiful way. "You're very beuatiful, Adele." He said softly, liking the way her name felt. |
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Adele was so confused. One side of her wanted to think that she could trust Caelan, but the other side, the side that was a princess, told her that she should never trust someone from the Night Kingdom. Adele's heart was all over the place, first intruiged, then emotional, then terrified, then confused. Adele decided to settle on terrified and confused for now. She told herself to stay calm, and not get too close to Caelan again. She was very aware of him looking at her. As for calling her 'darling' and 'dearest', he had just met her! How could he call her that? Then again, that look on his face said that he did think of her, or wanted to think of her, as just that: his dearest. She looked away, and didn't acknowledge what the prince had said, but instead changed the subject. "So, what's this special place we're going to?" |
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"A place I discovered while hiding for a week from my terrifying parents." He chuckled, trotting his mare a little further and dismounting. "It's safe, I promise" He said softly, gesturing for her to follow him. He led her to a cliff that faced the usual sunset direction. He smiled, sitting down and dangling his feet over the edge. |
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Calvin followed the prince's mare willingly as they wove their way through the forest. Suddenly the ground opened up to a flat plain that stretched on for a few meters before dropping off in a sheer cliff. Adele was stunned by the sight. She'd seen her share of nature, and even mountains, but cliffs were a rarity in the Day Kingdom. Adele dismounted, and allowed Calvin to graze peacefully a safe distance from the cliff, then tentatively followed Caelan and sat on the edge of the abyss. Her laced boots hung over thin air. Adele tried not to look down. It wasn't that she had a fear of heights, she just wasn't ready to see how far away the ground was quite yet. Instead she gazed out towards the horizon and what seemed to be the ocean, miles away. |
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Caelan sighed, laying back against the grass. "You have every right to hate me, want me dead, even loath me. Please, if it makes you happy, hit me or yell all you'd like. I'm not stopping you." Caelan said, a bit of a frown playing on his lips |
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Adele still felt confused and scared, but everything was slowly, very slowly, settling into place. She almost felt happy here, looking out at the horizon, with her kingdom's enemy sitting next to her. Adele looked at Caelan, tilting her head to consider him. "The truth is, there's no reason for me to hate you, loath you, or have you on my murder list. Not that I have a murder list," Adele added quickly, "But you're not the one I was taught to hate. No offense, but that would be your father and mother. And I've also never beat anyone up, unless beating my brother at chess counts." Adele added, smiling a little. |
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Light Rain then Clearing Overnight
